Gas-lighting apparatus.



No. 697,080. Patented Apr. a, |902.`

c. FAnEn.

GAS LIGHTING APPARATUS.

(Appliczion med Apr. a, 1901.1

(No Model.)

Tm; Nonnls persas co, mmamwm wAsmNaToN. n. c4

Paten/fed Apr. 8, |902.

C. FABER. GAS LIGHTING'APPARATUS.

n led Apr. 3, 1901 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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CARLOS FADER, OF LANDAU, GERMANY.

GAS-LIGHTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFIGATIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,080, dated April 8, 1902. Application filed April 3, 1901. Serial No. 54,197. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, may concern:

Be it known that I, CARLOS FABER, a subject of the German Emperor, and aresident of Mendoza, Argentina, actually at Landau, Bavaria, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Lighting Apparatus, (for which I have applied fora patent in France, dated January 10, 1901, No. 295,421; in Belgium, dated January 10, 1901, No. 122,153; in Germany,datedDecember13,1900, No. F. 13,603, and in Great Britain, dated January 1-1, 1901, No. 906,) of which the following is a specification.

As is well known, the lighting by hand of street-lamps necessitates the employment of lamp-lighters, the number of which varies with the area to be lighted and involves a comparatively great expense in large cities. Although this expenditure is done away with where cities are lighted by electricity, yet,

, owing to the brilliant light now obtainable from ordinary illuminating-gas by incandescence and owing to the great difference in the cost of the two illuminants-gas and electricity-the former being far the cheaper, the gas incandescent system of lighting is being substituted for the costly electric-lighting system in many cities, and where new plants are installed the incandescent system is preferred for reasons stated.

The object of this invent-ion lies in a simple and reliable apparatus for automatically lighting and extinguishing gas-lam ps of a city with a minimum loss or waste of gas, the lighting and extinguishing of the lamps being` effected by simply varying the pressure of the gas in the service-pipes, which may be effected at a central source of gas-supply or at any other suitable point or points within the area to be illuminated.

That myinvention may be fully understood, I will describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved automatic gas lighting and extinguishing device. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof, showing a slight modification in the construction and operationof' the valves and in the means for igniting the iiaine at the burner; and Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views, on a larger scale, of the apparatuses illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, A indicates a cylindrical casing provided in its lower head with an internally-screw-threaded neck which is screwed onto the gas-supply pipe B, that projects into said casing a proper distance. C indicates the cover or upper head for said casing removably secured thereto in any suitable manner and has dependent therefrom a cylinder CZ, whose open end is close to the lower head of said casing. The cylinder dis of less diameter than the casing A and concentric therewith to divide the same into two chambers, and into the outer chamber extends an overflow-pipe Q, whose outer end screws into an internally screw threaded bearing in the lower head of casing A, so that the inner end of said pipe may be adjusted relatively to the outlet of the gas-supply pipe B, and consequently relatively to the displacement of the liquid in the apparatus, as hereinafter referred to, the head C of said casing being provided with an aperture z' for the introduction of such liquid, which aperture is always open, so that the pressure therein will always be equal to atmospheric pressure.

The head C of casing A is provided with two nipples a and a, having gas-passages therein, opening into the inner chamber of the apparatus-namely, into the cylinder d--the passage in nipple d being contracted at its inner end, forming a port t, and on the mouth of said nipple is seated a plate s', more clearly shown in Fig. 3, having a port s therein of less cross-sectional area than the passage in said nipple, said ports being controlled by a valve, as hereinafter explained, the plate being held in position by a screw-cap constituting the base or support for a Bunsen burner F, provided with means for supporting an incandescible mantle. (Not shown.) The nipple a' also has a gas passage e opening into cylinder d, the outer end of said passage being enlarged and screw threaded internally for the reception of the iguiter-burner pipe H, at the outlet of which is mounted, preferably so as to revolve, a platinum-sponge carrier j, which constitutes the igniter for ig- IOO niting the gas issuing from the pipe H and therethrough the gas issuing -from the main burner, in a well-known manner.

In the passage through nipple ot and held in position by pipe I-I is arranged a plate fr', more clearly shown in Fig. 3, provided with a port controlled by a valve.

The valve which controls the ports s and t is a double cone-valve lr, secured to a stem o, which carries a float M, secured to a sleeve secured to said stem and guided in bracket 19 on cylinder d, the sleeve having at its upper end a flange or other projection serving to limit the drop of the float by contact with said bracket.

The Valve which controls the port of the igniter is a cone-valve w, secured to a stem fu, on which is likewise secured a float N, whose sleeve has also a flange or other projection y, serving to limit the drop of the float N by contact with the guide-bracket p on cylinder d for the valve-stem c.

It will beobserved that the guide-brackets p and p are so arranged relatively to the abutments or flanges u and y as to allow valve w but a slight movement from port a; and to admit of su'icient movement of double conevalve fr' to close port t as well as port s. It will also be observed that any suitable liquid may be used with the apparatus, the nature of such liquid depending upon the conditions of use of the apparatus. When the latter is used on street-lamps, a liquid which will not congeal at the lowest temperature to which the apparatus may be exposed and that will not readily evaporate is used-as, for instance, glycerin.

The operation of the apparatus constructed as described is as follows, it being assumed that when there is no gas-pressure in cylinder d the liquid will be at a level I in both chambers of the apparatus, the valve r closing main-burner port s and the valve w closing igniter-burner port :1:: When the gas .is turned on full by means ot' a cock in pipe B (not shown) at a time when the pressure in the main is least, as the daytime pressure, the liquid in cylinder CZ will be displaced, so that its level will be at II, for instance, the liquid rising correspondingly in the chamber around said cylinder d, and further manipulation of the aforesaid cock in pipe B is unnecessary. This drop in the level of the liquid will have little elect on the lioats M and N, the ports s m remaining closed. When the pressure in the distribution is temporarily increased to a maximum, or what I may call a lighting pressure, one above the normal night pressure, the level of the liquid is displaced, say, to the point III, thereby causing both iioats to drop and unseat both valves r and w. In view of the fact that float M is secured to valve-stem o in a higher plane than float N, said float M will begin its appreciable downward movement before the iioat N. The downward distance moved by the float M when the level of the liquid is at III is such as to cause the valve r to close the inner port tin passage of nipple a, and thus prevent the flow of gas from the inner chamber or cylinder d to the main burner F. On the contrary, the extent of the downward movement of oat N is comparatively small and so adj usted relatively to the like movement of float M that when the latter sinks to the level III to cause valve r to close port t the float N also reaches said level to unseat Valve w and allow gas to flow to the igniter-burner, such gas being ignited by the platinum sponge. The gas-pressure in the distribution is now reduced to normal night pressure, thereby causing the level of the liquid to rise to a point intermediate of the points II and IIIA-say to the point IV-. causing iioat M to rise sufficiently to cause valve 1' to fully uncover port t, while the lloat N rises to the limit ot' its upward motion, causing the valve w to close port fr, and as the float M rises in advance of float N the gas issuing from the main burner will be ignited before the valve w cuts off the gas from the igniter-burner. There is therefore no consumption of gas at the igniter-burner except for a moment, as will be readily understood.

On the outer end of the stem o and immediately above the double cone-valve r is arranged a downwardly-tapering regulatingvalve q, which serves to control the volume of gas passing through port s under varying pressures. Should the pressure increase beyond the normal night or illuminating pressure, the level of the liquid in the apparatus will be correspondingly lowered, thereby drawing the regulating-valve q into port s to a greater or less extent, according to the extent of drop in such level,vand correspondingly reducing the cross-sectional area of said port, and may drop to such an extent as to nearly close the port s and yet leave the port t practically wide open.

In Figs. 2 and 4t I have shown my invention in connection with an igniter-burner at which a constant flame is maintained until the main-burner ilame is ignited, the modiications residing essentially in the arrangement and operation of the valves and .the amplitude of their movements under variations of pressure. Thus the valve e' controls the flow of gas to the main burner F through the port s only, said valve having a cylindrical body which constitutes a weight whereby the float M and parts carried thereby are balanced in the liquid, while the floatN and parts carried thereby are unbalanced or lighter. There is a further dierence in that the conevalve w', that controls the ilow of gas through porto@ to the igniter-burner, instead of moving upwardly to close said port moves downward. In all other respects the apparatus is of the same construction as that shown in Figs. l and 3.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 4 is as follows: supposing the level ofthe liquid in the apparatus when there is no gas-pressure on it to be at the point I,

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the float M will be at such a level as to cause valve a' to close port s while the float N' will be at such a level above float M as to hold valve w' 0E its seat with port 0s wide open. By turning on the gas at day pressure the level of the liquid in cylinder d will drop to point II, so that neither of the floats will be displaced, gas flowing to the igniter-burner nozzle Z on pipe K, the gas being ignited once for all. lVhen the pressure in the distribution is increased to night or illuminating pressure, the level of the liquid in d will sink to the point IV, thereby causing valve a' to open wide port s and valve tu to close port but the float M will drop in advance of float N sufficiently to admit gas to the main burner and to admit of such gas being ignited by the igniter-burner llame before the float N has reached the limit of its downward motion with the falling` level of the liquid to close the port a: and cut od the supply of gas from igniter-burner nozzle Z. On the other hand,when the gas-pressure is reduced to day pressure, causing the level of the liquid d to again rise to the point II, the float N will rise first, owing to the smaller load thereon relatively to the load on float M, and cause valve w to uncover )ort o; so as to admit oras to said nozzle l, which gas is ignited by the mainburner flame before float M has moved upward sufficiently to cause valve r to cut off gas from the main burner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with agas-burner,a gassnpply pipe, a cutoff valve interposed between said burner and pipe and means operated by increase of the gas-pressure inthe supply-pipe to move the valve olf its seat; of means operated inversely to the direction of flow of gas from the supply-pipe to decrease the volume of gas supplied to the burner, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The combination with a gas-burner, of a gas-supply pipe, a gas inlet and cut-od valve interposed between said pipe and burner and means operated by variations of the pressure to move said valve to and off iis seat; of a regulating-valve moved inversely to the direction of flow of gas from the supply-pipe to decrease the volume of gas supplied to the burner, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The combination with a `gas-burner, a gas-supply pipe, a gas inlet and cut-oif valve interposed between said burner and pipe and means operated by variations of the pressure in the supply-pipe to move said valve to and o its seat; of a regulating-valve moved by the cut-off valve inversely to the direction of the flow of gas from the supply-pipe for decreasing the volume of gas supplied to the burner, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a gas-burner, a gas-supply pipe, a cut-off valve interposed between said burner and pipe, and a float connected to said valve and moved by the displacement of a liquid under the pressureof the gas from said supply-pipe; of a regulating-valve also moved by said float and operating to regulate the volume of gas supplied to the burner in accordance with the Variations of the pressure ofthe gas on said liquid, for the purpose setforth.

5. The combination with a gas-burner, an

igniter-burner, and a gas-supply pipe in communication with both burners; of a float-controlled cut-off valve for each of said burners, said floats moved bythe displacement of the level of a liquid by variations of the pressure thereon of the gas from the supply-pipe, for the purpose set forth. G. The combination with a gas-burner, an igniter-burner, and a gas-supply pipe incommu nication with both burners.; of a float-controlled cut-off valve for each of said burners, said floats moved by the displacement'of the level of a liquid by variations of the pressure thereon of the gas from the supply-pipe, and means for imparting a differential movement to said floats, for the purpose set forth.

7. In an automatic gas-lighting apparatus, the combination with a casingdivided into concentric chambers, the inner chamber open at its lower end, the outer chamber in com` munication with the atmosphere at its upper end, a sealing liquid in said chambers the normal level of which is below said communication, a gas-supply pipe extending into the inner chamber above said normal level, a main burner and an igniter-burner both in communication with said inner chamber above the said normal level of the sealing liquid; of a float-controlled cut-olf valve for each of said burners, and means for imparting to the floats a differential movement when the level of the sealing liquid drops below a normal level under an increase of the pressure in the inner chamber, for the purpose Y set forth.

8. In an automatic gas-lighting apparatus, the combination with a casing divided into concentric chambers, the inner chamber open at its lower end, the outer chamber in communication with the atmosphere at its upper end, a sealing liquid in said chambers the normal level of which is below said communication, a gas-supply pipe extending into the inner chamber above said normal level, a lnain burner and an igniter-burner both in communication with said inner chamber above the said normal level of the sealing liquid; of a float-controlled cut-off valve for each of said burners, and means for imparting to the floats a differential movement when the level of the sealing liquid drops below a normal level under an increase of l the pressure in the inner chamber and when said level again rises to its normal level under a decrease of said pressure, for the purpose set forth.

9. In an automatic gas-lightingapparatus,

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the combination with a casing divided into two concentric chambers, the inner chamber open at its lower end, the outer chamber i-n colnmunication with the atmosphere at its upper end, a sealing liquid in said chambers the normal level of which is below said communication, a gas-supply pipe extending into the inner chamber above said normal level, a main burner, and an igniter-burner provided with a platinum-sponge igniter; of a floatcontrolled valve for each of said burners, means for limiting the movements of the floats in either direction and means for imparting to them a differential movement when the level-of the liquid sinks below or returns to its normal level under variations of gaspressure, Vfor the purpose set forth. e

10. In an automatic gas-lightingr apparatus, the combination witha casing, divided into two concentricchambers, the inner chamber open at its lower end,vthe outer chamber in communication with the atmosphere at its upper end, a sealing liquid in said chambers the normal level of which is below said communication, a gas-supply pipe extending into the inner chamber above said normal level, a main burner, and an igniter-burner provided with al platinum-sponge igniter; of a iloatcontrolled valve for each of said burners, the float for the igniter-burner cut-olf valve being immersed topa greater extent in the seal-y ing liquid thanlthe oat for the main-burner' valve, for the purpose set forth.

l1. In an automatic gas-lighting' apparatus, thev combination with a casing divided into two concentric chambers, the inner chamber open at its lower end and the outer chamber in communication with the atmosphere at its upper end, a sealing liquid'in said chambers the normal level of which is below saidcommunication, a gas-supply pipe extending into the inner chamber above said normal level, a main burner and an igniter-burner both in communication withsaid innerchamberabove the level of the liquid therein; of a doublecone float-controlled valve, controlling` the inlet and outlet of the passage leading from the inner chamber to the main burner, a floatcontrolled cut-oil valve for the igniter-burner, and means forimparting a differential movement to the floats when the level of the liquid falls below or returns to its normal level under variations of the pressure in the inner chamber, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARLOS FADER.

Witnesses:

FRANZ SEILER, HEINRICH FABER. 

